Thursday, May 19, 2016

South Africa holds rate, won't hesitate to tighten again

South Africa's central bank left its benchmark repurchase rate at 7.0 percent as it "felt that there was some room to pause in this tightening cycle" due to an improved outlook for inflation, but added that if "will not hesitate to act appropriately should the inflation dynamics require a response."
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has raised its rate by 200 basis points since January 2014, including 75 points this year and said five members of its monetary policy committee voted to maintain the policy rate today while one member preferred to raise it by another 25 points.
Past rate hikes, including a 25-basis-point rate hike in March, helped improve the outlook for inflation but the central bank's monetary policy committee again underlined its sensitivity to economic growth which continues to disappoint.
"While there are signs that the economy may be reaching the low point in the growth cycle, the recovery is expected to be slow with downside risks," SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago said.
South Africa's Gross Domestic Product expanded by only 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 from the same 2014 period and SARB said recent data painted "a particularly bleak picture" of the first quarter of this year as mining output contracted, growth in the manufacturing sector was "minimal" and electricity output and consumption declined.
SARB revised downwards its 2016 growth forecast to 0.6 percent from 0.8 percent. While growth is expected to improve over the next two years, it still revised downward its forecast for 2017 and 2018 by 0.1 percentage point to 1.3 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.
South Africa's consumer price inflation rate eased to 6.2 percent in April from 6.3 percent in March and 7.0 percent in February, but the bank's measure of core inflation - which excludes food, fuel and electricity, rose to 5.5 percent in April from 5.4 percent in March.
"While the impact of the weaker exchange rate remains relatively low, there are indications of increased pass-through in some categories, particularly new motor vehicles and appliances," Kganyago said.
The bank's latest inflation forecast shows a slight deterioration in the near term, but some improvement in the medium term, the bank said, adding that inflation is now expected to average 6.7 percent this year, slightly below the 6.7 percent forecast previously.
Inflation is seen peaking at 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter of this year and then average 6.2 percent in 20-17 and 5.4 percent in 2018, marginally below previous forecasts due to assumptions of higher interest rates, a slightly higher exchange rate, a wider output gap and lower electricity prices.
SARB, which targets inflation of 3.0 to 6.0 percent, added that the forecast for inflation for this year was lowered to 5.9 percent from 6.2 percent but the forecasts for 2017 and 2018 were unchanged at 5.7 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.
After steadily depreciating since mid-2011 and hitting historic lows in January, South Africa's rand bounced back in the first four months of this year on higher commodity prices, a narrower trade balance and expectations of a slower pace of U.S. rate hikes.
However, since the start of May, when global growth concerns again surfaced, it has resumed its fall and was trading at 15.86 to the U.S. dollar today, down 2.1 percent this year.

The South African Reserve Bank issued the following statement by its governor, Lesetja Kganyago:"South Africa’s inflation and growth dynamics continue to highlight the policy dilemma
facing monetary policy. Although headline CPI inflation has moderated since
February, the respite is expected to be temporary, as food and petrol price pressures
continue to intensify. The recovery in the rand exchange rate in April also proved to
be short-lived, as both domestic and external factors weighed on the currency. At the
same time, domestic economic growth continues to disappoint. While there are signs
that the economy may be reaching the low point in the growth cycle, the recovery is
expected to be slow with downside risks. Global economic growth and financial
market conditions have stabilised somewhat since the previous MPC meeting, but a
high degree of risk and uncertainty persists.
The year-on-year inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) for all
urban areas has moderated after reaching a recent high of 7,0 per cent in February.
In March and April, CPI inflation measured 6,3 per cent and 6,2 per cent. Food price
pressures continued unabated, with food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation
accelerating to 11,0 per cent in April, up from 9,5 per cent previously. Goods price
inflation moderated from 6,9 per cent to 6,7 per cent, while services price inflation was unchanged at 5,7 per cent. The Bank’s measure of core inflation, which
excludes food, fuel and electricity measured 5,5 per cent, up from 5,4 per cent in
March. While the impact of the weaker exchange rate remains relatively low, there
are indications of increased pass-through in some categories, particularly new motor
vehicles and appliances.

Producer price inflation for final manufactured goods moderated significantly from
8,1 per cent in February to 7,1 per cent in March, mainly as a result of a sharp fall in
fuel prices. Manufactured food product price inflation accelerated to 10,5 per cent,
with the category of food, beverages and tobacco products contributing 3,1
percentage points to the March outcome. Agricultural prices increased by 23,1 per
cent in March, with cereal and other crop prices increasing by 50,0 per cent year-on-
year.

The latest inflation forecast of the Bank shows a moderate near-term deterioration
compared with the previous forecast, but there is some improvement in the medium-
term outlook. The breach of the upper end of the target range, while still protracted,
is now slightly shorter, with inflation expected to fall within the range during the third
quarter of 2017. Inflation is now expected to average 6,7 per cent in 2016 compared
with 6,6 per cent previously. In 2017 and 2018 inflation is expected to average 6,2
per cent and 5,4 per cent, marginally down from the previous forecast. The expected
peak, at 7,3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016, is unchanged. The downward
revisions are due in part to the higher interest rate assumption, a slightly less
depreciated exchange rate assumption, a wider output gap and a lower electricity
price assumption. These pressures are counteracted to some extent by a higher near-term food price forecast, and the impact of upward revisions to the international
oil price assumptions.

The forecast for core inflation is slightly improved, with a lower forecast for 2016 of
5,9 per cent from 6,2 per cent previously. Forecasts for 2017 and 2018 are
unchanged at 5,7 per cent and 5,2 per cent. Core inflation is expected to breach the
upper end of the target range in the third quarter of 2016 for four consecutive
quarters, with a peak of 6,2 per cent (previously 6,5 per cent) in the third and fourth
quarters of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017.
The BER survey of inflation expectations is only due for release in July. The median
expectations of economic analysts, as reflected in the Reuters Econometer survey
conducted in May are more or less unchanged compared with the previous survey,
and are slightly higher than those of the Bank for 2016 and 2017. In the latest
survey, the median expectations for 2016 and 2017 were 6,7 per cent and 6,4 per
cent, with inflation expected to be within the target range in 2018, at an average of
5,7 per cent. Bond market expectations implicit in the break-even inflation rates are
more or less unchanged since the previous meeting and remain at fairly elevated
levels.

Global growth remains hesitant following a disappointing first quarter in the US and
the UK in particular. While labour market conditions in the US have improved, low
corporate profits have constrained investment. However, consensus forecasts show
that a moderate improvement is expected in the coming months, but at a lower rate
than previously expected. The outlook for the UK is clouded by the possibility of an
exit from the EU, while the prospects for the Japanese economy remain uncertain.
By contrast, the growth outlook in the euro area is more promising, driven byimprovements in Germany and France in particular, although there are concerns that
the recent momentum may be fading.

Divergent prospects are evident in the emerging markets. Russia and Brazil remain
in recession, but there are signs of some stabilisation in China, as the economy
appears to be responding to government policy initiatives. This improvement, along
with a weaker US dollar, has resulted in some recovery in commodity prices, as well
as a pick-up in portfolio flows to emerging markets. Of some concern is the
persistent deterioration in growth forecasts for sub-Saharan Africa, which includes
some of South Africa’s important trading partners. The region is now expected to
underperform the global economy in 2016, for the first time in 16 years, as the
effects of lower commodity prices and drought take their toll.
Global inflation pressures remain benign, with low energy prices still having an
impact, although this effect is likely to dissipate with the recent upward trend in oil
prices. The latest data show declining prices in the euro area and Japan, and low
inflation in the US and the UK. Inflation has remained relatively higher in a number of
Latin American economies, particularly those experiencing currency depreciation. As
a result of these trends, asynchronous monetary policies persist. While policies are
generally accommodative amid subdued growth, particularly in many advanced
economies, a number of emerging markets have maintained a tightening bias in
response to inflation pressures. The US Fed is expected to continue with its slow
pace of policy rate normalisation but there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding
the timing of the next increase.
The rand exchange rate has remained volatile, and following a few weeks of relative
strength, has resumed a weakening path and continues to pose an upside risk to the inflation outlook. Since the previous meeting of the MPC, the rand has traded in a
range between R14,20 and R15,90 against the US dollar, and has depreciated by
1,5 per cent against the dollar, by 0,9 per cent against the euro, and by 1,2 per cent
on a trade-weighted basis.

During this period the rand was initially favourably impacted by improved commodity
prices, the narrower trade balance, and expectations of a slower pace of US Fed
monetary policy tightening. However, these gains were reversed as global growth
concerns resurfaced in early May, and other domestic factors, including the low
growth outlook, concerns about a possible ratings downgrade and more recently
heightened political uncertainty impacted adversely on the currency.
Although the capital flow environment for emerging markets has improved recently,
this has not applied to equity flows. South Africa’s experience has mirrored this, but
with stronger equity outflows. According to the JSE, since the beginning of the year,
net sales of domestic equities by non-residents have amounted to R56 bn. By
contrast, non-residents have been net purchasers of domestic government bonds
(year-to-date R23 bn), although the past two weeks has seen net sales.

The domestic economic growth outlook remains weak, with the Bank’s GDP growth
forecast for 2016 revised down from 0,8 per cent to 0,6 per cent. While a recovery is
still expected in the next two years, the forecasts for both these years have been
revised down by 0,1 percentage point to 1,3 per cent and 1,7 per cent. With the
estimates of potential output unchanged, the output gap is expected to widen over
the forecast period. The Bank’s leading indicator of economic activity continued its
downward trajectory in February, consistent with the constrained outlook.

Recent high-frequency data paint a particularly bleak picture of the first quarter of
this year, following a sharp contraction in mining output, minimal growth in the
manufacturing sector, and declines in electricity production and consumption. While
the Bank’s forecast for GDP growth in the quarter is barely positive, it does represent
the low point of the forecast, and a slow upward trend is expected going forward.
This view is consistent with the favourable developments in the Barclays PMI which
has recovered fairly strongly, to above the neutral 50-level for the past two months.
The real value of building plans passed, particularly non-residential, increased
markedly on a 3-month-to-3-month basis, indicative perhaps of some life in the
construction sector, despite very low levels of business confidence in the sector.
However, while the recent modest recovery in commodity prices may impact
positively on mining output, prices remain low and the sector remains beset by
higher input costs and regulatory uncertainty. The continuing drought is also
expected to put further strain on the agricultural sector.
The economic slowdown is also reflected in labour market trends, with the
unemployment rate rising to 26,7 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, from 26,4 per
cent a year earlier. Although employment growth was positive over the year to the
first quarter, the year-on-year growth rate moderated significantly, with employment
losses recorded in a number of sectors including manufacturing, agriculture and
transport.

Household consumption expenditure also remains subdued, with low growth in retail
sales in the first quarter. While there was a welcome increase in exports, new vehicle
sales also continue to decline. The FNB/BER consumer confidence index recovered to some extent in the first quarter of the year, although it still remains at depressed
levels, and indicates a low willingness to spend and utilise credit among consumers.

The constrained outlook for household consumption expenditure is indicative of the
absence of demand pressures in the economy. This is also confirmed in the weak
wealth effects and the continued slow pace of credit extension to households.
Although some improvement has been seen in this regard, growth remains negative
in real terms, and is mainly related to mortgage advances and general loans,
particularly unsecured lending. Growth in credit extension to corporates remains
strong, but moderated in March.
Wage growth appears to be moderating, with growth in nominal remuneration per
worker in the formal non-agricultural sector declining to below 6 per cent in the fourth
quarter of 2015, mainly due to lower private sector remuneration growth. Once
adjusting for labour productivity, growth in unit labour costs remained unchanged at
5,0 per cent in that quarter.

Food prices remain a significant risk to the inflation outlook in the face of persistent
drought and exchange rate weakness. These pressures are evident in both the
consumer price and producer price indices. Although for some time the MPC had
been expecting an acceleration in food price inflation, the recent increases have
surprised on the upside, and more aggressive food price increases are now forecast
for the near term. The Bank now expects food price inflation to peak at around 12
per cent in the final quarter of this year. However, should food prices stabilise or
decline later in the year, there is the potential for downside base effects next year.
Futures prices suggest that both maize and wheat prices are expected to remain elevated for the rest of the year, reinforced by a sizeable increase in the domestic
wheat import tariff.

The international oil price assumptions in the forecasting model have been
increased, with the price of Brent crude oil remaining firmly above the US$40 per
barrel level since the second week of April. Demand has surprised on the upside,
and, despite an increase in supply from Iran, output has declined in a number of
countries. This upward price trend may, however, be contained by high levels of
inventories. Domestic petrol prices have increased by a cumulative R1,00 per litre
since March, mainly due to higher international prices and an increase in the fuel
levy. Should current exchange rate and international oil price trends persist, a
further significant increase can be expected in June.
The MPC faced the continuing dilemma of upside risks to the inflation forecast and a
worsening growth outlook. The risks to the growth outlook are assessed to be on the
downside, particularly in the short term, despite the downward revision to the
forecast. Both the mining and agricultural sectors are expected to weigh heavily on
the first quarter growth outcome, and the outlook is therefore dependent in part on
whether these sectors rebound in the coming quarters.

The Committee remains concerned about the inflation outlook and the extended
breach of the target. Although the inflation forecast has shown a moderate
improvement over the medium term, the risks are still assessed to be on the upside.
The exchange rate remains highly sensitive to domestic political developments and
risks of an earlier-than-expected tightening in US monetary policy. The exchange
rate implicit in the forecast is stronger than the current level, imparting a significant
degree of upside risk. While pass-through from the exchange rate to inflation remains relatively subdued, there are indications that this may be increasing. There
is also some upside risk to the international oil price assumption.

The Committee remains concerned that inflation expectations remain at
uncomfortably high levels. Although core inflation has remained relatively contained
in recent months, with a lower peak now expected, it is forecast to accelerate and
exceed the upper end of the inflation target range for four quarters in response to
exchange rate and wage pressures.
Some countervailing risks are also evident. While there is a risk that food prices may
accelerate faster in the near term, the longer term forecast assumes that food prices
will stabilise by year end, allowing for favourable base effects next year. However,
should food prices, particularly grains, decline in response to a normalisation of
weather patterns, a much sharper downward food inflation trajectory could transpire.
The absence of demand pressures, and risks to consumption expenditure growth
may also contribute to downside risks.
The increase in the repo rate at the previous MPC meeting contributed to the
improvement in the longer-term inflation forecast, and that move should be seen in
conjunction with previous actions in the cycle and the lagged effects of monetary
policy. The MPC felt that there is some room to pause in this tightening cycle and
accordingly decided to keep the repurchase rate unchanged for now at 7,0 per cent
per annum. Five members preferred no change, while one member preferred a 25
basis point increase.

The MPC remains focused on its inflation mandate, but sensitive to the extent
possible to the state of the economy. The MPC will not hesitate to act appropriately should the inflation dynamics require a response, within a flexible inflation targeting
framework. Future moves, as before, will continue to be highly data dependent."www.CentralBankNews.info